Musings from the patriot

POLITICAL VIEWPOINT By The Patriot

Post-elections 2025, there was hope that the arrogance, self-impor­tance and haughtiness that characterised some in the former PNM administration government would have been left behind.

Regretfully, while administrations may have changed, some of the same behaviours are now observed with the new government.
Many lament and say that it seems they were fooled into believing that things would be different.
With the change, those who performed at the highest levels and who used their knowl­edge and experience to help the country move forward were summar­ily dismissed, fired or forced to resign.
If one was associated with, sympathetic or even appointed by the former government that person had to go. Un­fortunately, they were replaced by party hacks and sympathisers.
The rant of a for­mer leader that Trinis are foolish was harsh, but it seems to be true. The pensadores lament “when will we ever learn?”
There are times when we must stop to think and reflect on the past objectively to avoid making the same mis­takes.
The old wise pensa­dore reminded us of the ballad, “Blowing Wild – The Ballad of Black Gold” by Frankie Laine from 1953, featuring the lyrics, “set me free, free from black gold” that told the story about oil drilling and lost love.
The question in these times must be whether the world and leaders are caught up in the quest for “black gold” –oil.
For example, many ask about the reasons for ousting President Maduro. Is it a drugs and arms issue? Could it be to help citizens of a country that is oil rich but socio and economi­cally poor?
Is it to get rid of a dictator? Or could it be a combination of the foregoing? Let us face the facts as propounded by the wise professors and political and inter­national relations ex­perts.
It all boils down to one thing – oil. It is ac­cepted that Venezuela has the largest oil de­posits in the world; it also has vast resources of gas, iron-ore, gold, diamonds and silver, as well as a vibrant fishing and shrimp industry.
It is no wonder that the large developed countries would like to have these resources, hence the interest of the US, China and Russia among others.
The lesson in Juan Alvaro’s book the Shark and the Sardines written in 1962 are now true.
The Shark and the Sardines examines Guatemala’s political landscape, exploring foreign influence, mili­tary control, and social justice struggles in mid-20th century.
Put this way, the Ca­ribbean Sea is a semi enclosed sea, a concept accepted by all Carib­bean States that are par­ties of the United Na­tions Convention on the Law of the Sea (Article 122) and the provisions set forth therein.
Caribbean leaders would know these facts – the Caribbean Sea is a zone of peace with an abundance of recours­es.
For example, ship­ping with routes to the Panama Canal, fishing, tourism and eco tour­ism, with a thriving hotel industry, Illegal, Unreported, and Un­regulated (IUU) fish­ing, which poses a sig­nificant threat to marine ecosystems, global food secu­rity, and the liveli­hoods of legitimate fishers.
IUU activities cost the global economy an esti­mated $10–23 bil­lion annually.
It is therefore important to pro­tect the Caribbean Sea and the envi­ronment from pol­lution, acidity, and rising sea levels that threaten the environment in­cluding the coral reefs.
Environmental experts are sad­dened as they ob­serve the conflict in the Caribbean Sea where the boats alleg­edly transporting drugs are blown up with the remains ending up in the ocean.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is deemed by jurists as the Constitu­tion of the Oceans.
It seems that some states have no regard for the relevant law. The provisions of Charter of the United Nations is disregarded with gun boat diplomacy the or­der of the day.
Might overrules what is right.
“Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to de­ceive”.
This famous quote means that telling a lie often leads to a com­plex and ever-growing series of additional lies and complications to cover up the original dishonesty, which can eventually spiral out of control.
Locally and inter­nationally, the lies are coming fast and furious with people becoming more and more con­fused. They continue to search for the truth to no avail.
To cite the words of Napoleon Bonaparte, “we are pawns in this world of emperor, kings and queens.”
The wise pensadore adds that we are sar­dines in the Caribbean sea of sharks piranha, and octopuses.